Alternatively, that same functionality could be used to tell you what the speed limit is. My cars GPS will display the speed limit on the map if it knows it. It’s great to get the extra info, and nothing is controlling my car

The loaner car I just got when bringing my vehicle in for some warranty service, was set by the dealer to max out at 85mph. Given that there’s no road above 65 in my state, that seems reasonable.

Actually my car has parental controls that I’ve never considered using until now. I’m not going to nanny my teen drivers but surely they don’t need to exceed speed limit +20mph

My car lets me set a threshold - currently +7mph. I can see on the dashboard when I’ve exceeded my self-imposed threshold, vs when I am between that and the actual speed limit. Actually I wish it would do a bit more, like turn yellow.

I also ignore it in crowded areas, and pedestrian crossings, school zones, construction zones with people working, etc.

Although I’m really pissed at whoever thought the wide straight parkway leading through the woods up to my workplace is 15 mph. That’s the reason people ignore speed limits

However it is not set by anyone but me, never limits the vehicle, doesn’t make noise, and doesn’t get reported to anyone (as far as I know).

Have they gotten over it? I didn’t know anyone had. Nor have I heard of any initiative she successfully handled

WiFi also usually means an internet portal, which impacts responsiveness, potentially violates privacy, and leaves you at the mercy of a company continuing to provide the service.

Zigbee is not just cheaper and uses less power, but it’s open and local so there’s not some company accumulating your data to sell and you’re not at their mercy

• what other measurements might you care about, for combination sensors?
• how frequent?

I have Shelby flood sensors in the basement, based on WiFi. They were cheap and the batteries last over a year. While they do have an online portal, the HA integration can read them locally. One of the things I get from it is a graph of temperatures, however the data points can be an hour or more apart.

Given the heat lately, air conditioning. Sure, AC has been around for a long time but it’s becoming ubiquitous (at least in the us). Mine is controllable over Alexa, outputs data graphs, makes intelligent decisions to save money, etc.

Now that we daily experience the results of global warming, we all hide our heads in the sand AC

Now that EVs are a thing, taxing carbon may not do what you expect.

I’m firmly on the side of it being unreasonable to discourage driving until there is a reasonable alternative.

• There are a handful of us cities where there is enough of an alternative and they already make it expensive to have a car and getting more expensive all the time (see NYC proposed congestion fees, Boston record prices for a parking spot, Cambridge street restrictions)
• even then, there should be a better way to support people who think they need a car but don’t use it everyday. It shouldn’t need to be in everyone’s way

However for most of the US, that’s just alienating people who would be on our side if there was a choice

I find it hard to believe every sticky smelly taxi I’ve been in is sanitized hourly, maybe not even daily.

Except for congestion periods, you should be able to reject it and get another